by Hans Bezdek
“I’ve got a better idea,” said Cassandra.
With frightening speed, Cassandra shoved the Shattered Sword through both of their heads as I got to my feet, silencing their dumb speech forever.
“That was annoying,” she said, sheathing her blade.
“We should probably hurry and find Dhot,” I said, hurrying past her.
It took us nearly ten minutes to find the goblin. When we did, he was laying on his back in the snow, staring up at the sky and holding his right arm.
“How was flying?” I asked.
“The flying was great,” he said, sitting up. “It was the crash landing that wasn’t so fun. Maha!”
“Let me see your arm,” said Cassandra, taking it and looking it over. After checking a few things that elicited grunts from the goblin, she gave us her diagnosis. “His arm’s broken.”
“Lovely,” I sighed. “Should we head back to Feldarkr and see if they have a doctor or someone skilled in healing magic?”
“No, let’s get the Mace first,” said Dhot, struggling to his feet. “I can still walk. Just don’t expect any heroic moves if we run into more giants. How did you guys finish those two?”
“Reimar opened the floor beneath them, swallowing them up,” said Cassandra, walking back towards the road. “I stabbed them both through their eyes shortly after.”
“Seems efficient,” said the goblin. “Maybe do the magic a bit quicker next time?”
We continued down the road until we found the side road to turn on. From there, it only took another half an hour before we found what we were looking for.
A short tower leaned into a nearby mountain. The tower was made of stone and metal, and was covered with snow. A small chimney stuck out of the top. Smoke flowed out of it.
“This must be it,” said Cassandra, walking up to the front door.
“Woah, you don’t want to be a little more careful?” I asked, chasing after her.
“He’s still in his weak state,” she said. “I hope.”
She pushed on the door when she got there, which opened without much effort. I was surprised Braun hadn’t locked it. I guess he didn’t get many visitors.
A small fire was going in the middle of the building, which looked to be two or three stories high. It was all an open room, aside from stairs that led up. Books were scattered all over the place, along with molding food and half empty bottles of drink. There was a large couch in the middle, where Braun sat.
The dwarf looked up as we entered. He dropped his plate of some sort of stew and brought his hands up defensively. Looked like we lucked out and we got here before he turned dark again.
“D-Did ye follow me home?” whimpered Braun.
“Of course not,” I sighed. “We were sent here by King Julfr.”
“King Julfr?” he asked, eyes widening. “He… he sent ya to come kill me, did he?”
“What? No!” I said. “Why do you think everyone is trying to kill you?”
“Ye tried to kill me in Feldarkr!”
“Well… that was a few hours ago,” said Dhot, as if it was common sense that the short amount of time completely changed the circumstances.
“Why are ye here?” he asked.
“King Julfr sent us here for Grimkell’s Mace,” I explained. “Not only are the blue dragons causing your people problems, but the dwarves fear they may be in league with the black and reds.”
“In league with them black and reds? Impossible! They’re a very peaceful, loving people.”
“Then why are they attacking dwarves?” asked Dhot.
“I… I dunno…” he said, looking away. “I… I won’t give ye the Mace.”
“Your king wants you to give it to us,” I said. “Are you disobeying your king?”
“I am on this matter!” said Braun, raising his voice.
Cassandra walked closer to Braun, crouching down to be closer to his eye level. The dwarf looked confused and took a step back.
“It’s possible something else is going on with the blue dragons,” she said quietly. “We won’t do them any harm until we can be certain.”
“We won’t?” asked Dhot, nursing his arm.
“Of course not,” she said, glaring over her shoulder at the goblin. “I heard what the dwarven king said, but there’s got to be another part to the story. Maybe we’ll be able to talk to them, and figure out why they have attacked some of the dwarves.”
“Fine…” mumbled Dhot. For someone with a broken arm, he was really in a fighting mood.
“Thank ya,” said Braun, smiling at Cassandra. “I can see in yer eyes that yer speaking the truth.”
Cassandra smiled back at him.
“Now that the cute moment has passed,” I said, “can we get Grimkell’s Mace now? Pretty please?”
“About that… I still can’t give ya the Mace.”
Dhot growled and took a menacing step forward. “Why you little-”
“Why not?” asked Cassandra, putting an arm out to block the goblin.
“Funny story,” laughed Braun, playing nervously with a ring on his finger.
“We’re listening,” I said.
“It’s sort of… missing.”
Chapter 7
“Missing?!” shouted Dhot, running up to grab Braun by his robe. “Why I ought to-gah!”
The goblin winced in pain, drawing back from the dwarf. He grabbed at his arm and tried to calm down.
“What’s wrong with him?” asked Braun, walking over to the goblin.
“He’s upset about Grimkell’s Mace being gone!” I said. Why could this never be easy? “Where could it have gone to?”
“I-I’m not sure,” stuttered Braun, looking down at Dhot. A white light appeared in the dwarf’s right hand. He reached it out carefully towards the goblin.
“W-What’re you doing?” asked Dhot, trying to pull back.
Braun touched Dhot with his hand, and the white light circled around the goblin’s arm. The light fizzled out and the dwarf turned back towards me.
“T-The Mace has been missing for a week now,” said the dwarf.
I looked past the dwarf and to Dhot, who was now flexing his broken arm and moving it around. He looked to have full control of it again.
“You’re a healer,” said Cassandra, seeing the same.
“I am,” smiled Braun. “Don’t get to use me powers much since I’m stuck out here alone, but I read up a lot on it.”
“Fascinating,” I said dryly.
“Hey, he healed Dhot!” said Cassandra, slapping my arm.
“And I’m grateful for it,” I said, rubbing the spot she hit. “We didn’t come here to learn about what sort of powers the dwarf may or may not have, though. We came for the Mace, and now it’s gone.”
“I’m mighty sorry,” said Braun, eyes watering up. “I failed ye, and I failed me king.”
“Don’t… don’t worry about it,” said Dhot slowly, getting closer to join the conversation again. “I’m sure we can figure something out.”
“Oh, you’re all friendly with him now, just because he healed you?” I asked.
“More than you’ve done,” said the goblin.
“I’ve saved you from black dragons!” I said. “You died, and I turned time backwards!”
“Black dragons?” asked Braun. “Time goin backwards? What’re ya talkin about?”
“Like we said, the black and reds are coming,” said Cassandra. “The Mace isn’t the first item that we’ve been in search of, and we aren’t the only ones going after it.”
“Why’re you tryin to get these, even if them dragons are coming back?”
“We’re trying to fulfill the Gathering,” I shrugged. “As usual, it’s not going as smoothly as I hoped it would.”
The dwarf jumped over his couch, clipping his foot and crashing to the ground.
“Uh… you okay?” I asked.
“Can you heal yourself? Maha!”
“I-I’m fine, thanks,” said Braun, getting back to his fee
t and heading for some books in the back.
The three of us shared a look, but didn’t say anything. This dwarf was a pain whether he was in his evil form or not. At least this one could heal, I guess.
He flipped through a few pages of a book, then hurried back over to us. He cleared his throat, reading aloud:
“A winged one with a heart of man will be needed to unite the lands.
The blood and darkness of old will rise again from their home, with the help of the ancient crown.
Without the winged one at their helm, the lands of Yaerna will fall to evil for eternity.
The winged one must find the banished rogue, the crazed inventor, and the runt of Brumark.
Without their help and those of the legendary weapons of old, evil has won.
The Gathering has begun.”
“That’s the one,” I nodded.
“Ye… ye three are fulfilling this, ya said?”
“Trying to,” nodded Cassandra.
“A little hard without the Mace…” I mumbled.
“Crazed inventor… that must be the goblin,” said Braun, pointing.
“Dhot,” smiled the goblin.
“Dhot… interesting, interesting… the banished rogue…”
“That would be me,” smiled the elf. “Cassandra Nightgrip.”
“Ye’re a rogue?” he asked skeptically.
“She stole from the elven queen. Maha!” laughed Dhot.
“Ah…” said Braun, looking down at the book again before he looked up at me. “Does that make you… the Winged One?”
“Unfortunately,” I nodded.
“He’s Reimar,” added Cassandra.
“How do ya fit the prophecy?” he asked. “Ya got wings?”
“I’m a half dragon,” I said.
Cassandra and Dhot shared a surprised look, but Braun reacted the way I figured he would: laughing.
“Good one,” he nodded. “That’s what I get fer askin, I suppose. Ya don’t gotta tell me if ya don’t want to.”
Cassandra smiled at me. Sometimes, telling the truth and just leaving it at that was easiest. Not my fault if he didn’t believe me.
“You know,” said Dhot, eyeing the dwarf, “we’re still missing someone on that list…”
“Aye, the runt of Brumark. I wonder where ye will meet em.”
“Maybe we already have,” said Dhot.
“King Julfr?”
“No! Maha! Maybe it’s you!”
I couldn’t tell if the goblin was joking or not, but I looked over the dwarf again. He wasn’t particularly big or strong, especially not for a dwarf. He was an outcast of his society. While he could heal when he was in this form, it was a risk being around him as he could change to his dark side on a moment’s notice. I couldn’t think of too many worse options for travel companions.
That meant it probably was him.
“Oh, I dunno,” said Braun, rubbing his beard. “There’s no way I’d be that important.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” I said. My money was on the former, but we could figure that out later. “Who do you think could’ve taken the Mace?”
The dwarf set his book down and thought about it. “Frankly, I’ve got no clue. Me king and a few other dwarves knew it was here, and that’s it.”
“Did Erskine?” asked Dhot. “I bet he took it! I told you all he was no good!”
“The funny lookin human?” asked Braun. “Nay, he never knew.”
“Oh,” said Dhot, disappointed.
“What about the blue dragons?” asked Cassandra. “Did any of them know about the Mace?”
Braun turned red. “Uh… maybe?”
“Maybe?” I asked. “How maybe? They either do or they don’t.”
“Sometimes when I go dark for a bit, then wake up… I end up in Ostad.”
“The city of the blue dragons?” I clarified.
Braun nodded. “I think me dark side likes the lot. He might’ve said somethin to em about it.”
I ran a hand over my face as I thought about it. We didn’t really have any other options, and we were going to have to talk with the blue dragons sooner or later.
“Well, looks like we’re heading to Ostad,” I said.
“Ye all will love it there,” smiled Braun. “It’s probably just us dwarves tha-”
“You’re coming with us,” I said.
“I am?” he asked.
“You might be the runt of Brumark,” said Dhot simply. “We’ll need you.”
“B-But…”
“It’ll be fun,” smiled Cassandra, turning and heading back for the door. “You’re always stuck by yourself. Now you won’t be alone anymore.”
“Plus, if you don’t come with, I’m going to have to go tell King Julfr about you misplacing their most important weapon,” I said.
“Y-Ye wouldn’t…”
“I would, indeed,” I nodded. “If you come with, though, then you’ll have nothing to worry about.”
“Ostad is a full day’s walk!” he complained.
“Better get packed fast then,” said Cassandra, looking outside. “Sun’s starting to get low in the sky.”
Braun looked at all three of us in turn, but none of us were budging. With a groan, he grabbed a bag and ran around the tower, throwing items in as he went. A few minutes later, and the dwarf was ready.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I asked as we all exited the tower.
“Say that after we get out of Ostad alive,” he mumbled, locking the door behind him.
The four of us started out, heading to the northwest. Braun explained that he had been to Ostad many times over the past hundred years, and knew the fastest route. This meant not walking on a trail for quite some time, and a lot more snow in our boots. I was fine with that if it meant getting to Grimkell’s Mace as soon as possible.
We walked for a couple of hours through the flurries, until it turned to heavy snow. Through the magic of the flasks, we were able to stay at a comfortable temperature, but it was a little worrying that our vision was so blocked. I hoped it would keep potential predators at bay as I scanned around us.
Movement off to my right caught my eye, and I slowed down to look. A white figure on a horse was just on the edge of how far I could see, staring at me. It had a human-like figure, and was wrapped completely in white garments. Goggles were over their face, which probably helped them see me much better than I could see them.
“Something wrong, Reimar?” asked Cassandra, turning back to see why I slowed down.
I glanced over at the elf, not sure what to say. I looked back to my right, but the figure was gone. Was I going crazy?
“Uh, it’s nothing,” I said, picking my pace back up.
The snow didn’t let up over the next hour. Even with the extra heat from our drinks, we were all getting a bit chilled and tired.
“Now seems as good a time as any to stop for the night,” said Cassandra as we came upon a small cave opening. “This’ll give us at least a bit of protection.”
“Don’t see any giants around here, do you?” asked Dhot, clearing some snow away from the front of the cave. “I’m itching for some payback.”
“I don’t think we’ve got to worry about any giants right now,” I said, glancing over to Braun. “They mostly just hunt during the day, right?”
“Aye,” nodded the dwarf.
“Guess I’ll have to wait for another day. Who will keep watch first?” asked Dhot, pulling some sticks out of his bag and placing them together.
“I-I’d be happy to,” smiled Braun as I shot a small fireball at the sticks. They caught fire immediately, and Dhot continued adding wood to it. “It’s the least I can do, since this whole adventure is me fault.”
“No,” I said, walking over to my bag and pulling out some blankets.
“That’s awfully kind of ya to say, but-”
“No, not that. You’re right, this is your fault,” I clarified. “But no, as in, you’re not going to keep first watch.”
“The three of us will take turns keeping watch,” I said. Cassandra and Dhot nodded, but Braun still seemed confused.
“Don’t take it personally,” said Cassandra. “There’s just no telling when you’ll faint and go dark on us.”
Braun nodded, his face turning a little red.
“I… I understand,” he said, taking out a blanket from his own bag.
“Can’t have you killing us in our sleep, now can we?” asked Dhot. “Maha!”
Chapter 8
I woke up to Braun standing over me. I had no way of knowing if he was just waking me up, or if he had turned dark and was about to kill me.
“Get back!” I mumbled, pushing him away and reaching for my dagger.
“S-Sorry!” he said, taking a few steps back.
“Not dark,” I nodded, sitting up. “Just had to be sure.”
We ate a quick breakfast before packing up. The snow had stopped, and it looked like a few more inches had been added around us. Dhot didn’t look particularly excited about that, taking a big swig from his flask before we started out.
Braun projected that we would make it to Ostad by midday if everything went well. This path crossed through troll territory, he explained, and they would sometimes chase him off. As long as we were careful and kept an eye out, there shouldn’t be any problems.
We pushed through the edges of some mountains as the hours passed. I risked some looks around us whenever I could, not only on the lookout for trolls and wolves, but also of that white figure I had seen twice now. Cassandra gave me a curious look whenever she caught me glancing behind us, but said nothing.
“What is Ostad like?” asked Dhot after a few hours. “Is it really all blue dragons?”
“Aye, it is,” nodded Braun. “It’s been that way since I was a lil one. It’s actually in Brumark’s law that they are allowed to keep their town and rule over it as they please.”
“I didn’t know that,” I said. “Why did Brumark give them that area?”
“It’s a sad tale, that one,” said Braun. “A thousand years ago, them blues were scattered all across what is now called Brumark. Some took their human forms, others didn’t. At some point, the blasted other races decided that their blue scaled made lovely decorations. Orcs, humans, kobolds… heck, even some elves started comin up here to hunt them blue dragons down. It’s similar to how the green dragons were treated. Well… back when that lot still existed.”
